A delighted Danny Mullins crosses the line on Flooring Porter at Cheltenham© Photo Healy Racing
Gavin Cromwell tasted Grade 1 glory on the double at Cheltenham last year with Flooring Porter and Vanillier and they both return to Prestbury Park this week.
Flooring Porter made all under Danny Mullins in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 12 months ago and will bid for a repeat in the three-mile stamina test on Thursday.
The Yeats gelding has been given a similar preparation with a break since the Leopardstown Christmas meeting where this term he filled the runner-up spot behind Klassical Dream and steps will be taken to ensure the seven-year-old is as relaxed as possible before the start.
“Having crowds at Cheltenham this year is a bit of a concern and he is going to wear a red hood to the start,” said Cromwell on Racing TV.
“He’s grown up and is a lot more mature this year than he was last year.”
Vanillier drew clear in the straight for an 11 lengths win in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last year and, having won a Grade 2 at Punchestown in November, holds solid claims tomorrow in the Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Novices’ Chase.
“He’s one of those horses that seems to spark at this time of the year. In the last three weeks he’s come alive and we are really looking forward to him,” said Cromwell.
“We always thought he was slower than he was. He’d been racing on heavy ground which I think slows him down and if he gets on a nicer surface he shows another gear.
“Clearly he stays very well. This is his ideal ground and the trip won’t be a problem.”
The yard is also represented tomorrow by Gabynako who has been supplemented at a cost of £8,000 for the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
The seven-year-old won a 2m5f beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse earlier this season and subsequently ran a cracker at the same venue when runner-up in the Grade 1 BARONERACING.COM Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f.
However, connections have decided to drop him back to two miles with Cromwell explaining, “In general he jumps well and is very quick through the air. He has a good cruising speed and obviously he’ll stay the trip well.
“If he’s not on top of his head in the first half of the race and, with a clear round of jumping, I think he’ll come home well.”
